Sheet-metal container



J. LEE ET AL SHEET METAL CONTAINER Sept. 25, 1928.

Filed March 9, 1927 [/59- fnzrenians Jzlzn LEE 5155115 sfasr 01: W A 2 Patented Sept. 25, 1928.

UNITED STATES:

SHEET-METAL CONTAINER.

Application filed larch 9, 1927. Serial No. 173,951.

Our-invention relates to improvenients in sheet metal containers, and the object of the invention is to devisea container particularly adaptable for containing blackeninghml like commodities, and a further object is to devise a container of this class which is simple, and cheap'to manufacture, which may be easily opened in a. minimum amount of time and witha minimum amount of effort and yet will be airtight, and it consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as hereinafter more particularly explained.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of our container.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View through Figure 1.

Figs. 3, 1 and 5 are perspective Views of modified forms.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are sectional views through Fi ures 3, 4 and 5.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the metal blank showing how the stamping is done to minimize the cost of production.

In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corres nding parts in each figure. Referring to igs. 1 and 2 1 indicates the container body, the upper edge of which is flared outward at a slight angle as indicated at 1". 2 is the container cover, the annular wall or flange 2* of which is provided with an inwardly inclined portion 2 extending parallel to the flange portion 1 of the body, such inclined portions being adapted to fit one against the other when the cover is inserted within thebody. The

9 lower portion of the flange 2 fits against the wall of the body in the usual manner. The angle at which the portions 2", 2 and 1 extend are such that when the coveris fitted within the container 1 the two inclined portions will shoulder one against the other without having any wedging effect so that there will beno tendency for the cover to stick in engagement with the body and prevent of its easy removal, and yet at the same time the contact with the two surfaces will form a perfectly air tight seal preventing the contents of the container being detrimentally effected by the atmosphere.

In order to retain the cover in its closed position we provide lugs or tongues 3 which are preferably stamped integral with the upper edge of the body and when the cover is in position the tongues 3 are bent over against the top of the cover which is preferably recessed downwardly asindicated at 4. It will be noted that the tongues taper inwardly toward the base so as to form a pointof easy severance. whereby-when it is desired to open the container,-the tonguesmay bebent back so as to be severed from the container so that they will notbe' in the way of the user when using the contntsof -the container.

By. this means the cover is securely retained in position and all it is necessary to do to remove the cover is to bend the sheet metal tongues 3 out of contact with the top of the cover and simply lift the cover off the container without-any exertion on the part of the operator.

In order to manufacture the container as shown particularly in Figures '1 and 2 with a minimum amount of cost, the container body is stamped out of a sheet of metal such as indicated in Figure 9. The waste which is naturally'left between the stamped out portions is utilized to form the tongues 3 and thereby involve no extra expense over and above the ordinary cost of manufacture and no extra material.

form of construction in which the air seal formed by the opposing inclined portions 5 and 6 corresponding to the inclined portions 1" and 2 of Figure 1 are located at the bottom of the container instead of at the top, the lugs 7 depending from the lower edge of the cover and when secured in position extend beneath the bot-tom of the container.

In Figures 4and 7 we have shown a further modification in which the cover extends to the outside of the container body and the inclined sealing portions 9 and 10 are located respectively at the outer edge of the body and the bottom edge of the cover, the lugs 11 depending from the loweredge of the cover to beneath the bottom of the container;

In Figure 7 wehave shown an alternative form of fastening means. In this form the lugs 11 may be dispensed with and spring clips 12 provided, the top wall of the cover and bottom wall of the body of the container being recessed inwardly as indicated at 13 and '14 so as to form an engaging edge for the arms 12 and 12 of the clip. A plurality of these clips, of course, are provided.

In Figures 5 and 8 the seat is formed by stamping out of thewall of the'container body 8* an annular rib 15, the upper wall of which is inclined as indicated at 15* so as to form an inclined seat for the parallel portions 16* of the cover flange 16.

In practice it has been found that the in- OFFICE." I

clined engaging sealing portions should be about one SlXtQGHtlIOf an 111Cl1 long and set at an angle about 14 degrees so that the parallel portions will seat one against the other so as to form an air tight oint and yet a joint which will not Wedge and prevent the easy removal of the cover from the container body Whenever desired. 7

Although We have described tongues as the securing means, it- Will, of course, be-understood that I various other securing means may be providedWithout departing from the ofthe container, 7

spirit of the invention.

lVh at Weclaim as our invention is A sheet metal container divided" into two portions having annularflanges fitting freely JOHN LEE. CHAS. PEARSON. 

